Justice Minister says he intends to continue his approach to deportations
By Bairbre Holmes, Press Association
The Minister for Justice has said he intends to continue his approach to non-Irish nationals who commit serious criminal offences in the state, the day after 34 men were deported to Poland and Lithuania.
Jim O’Callaghan was at Dublin Airport on Monday to launch upgraded eGate facilities, part of the border management system operated by the Department of Justice.
The 25 new and upgraded gates will offer a “significant development” in making sure there is a “safe and secure” border at Ireland’s largest airport, he said.
O’Callaghan was speaking to reporters a day after 34 Polish and Lithuanian men were deported on a flight from the airport.
“These were all people who had been convicted of serious criminal offences,” he said.
EU citizens are permitted to live and work in Ireland under the free movement directive, but he said that comes “subject to very serious conditions”.
“If people have committed serious criminal offences, they lose to privileges that come under the free movement directive.”
However, O’Callaghan said he also needs to be “conscious of the concerns of victims”.
He said he looks for the consent of victims of serious sexual offenses before the perpetrator is removed and said “no-one is removed from prison in the jurisdiction until they are serving the final year in custody”.
“I’m taking a very serious approach in response to people who have come to Ireland and have committed serious criminal offences, and that’s something I intend to continue.”
Discussing the new gates O’Callaghan said around 6.3 million people used the eGates at Dublin last year and that is expected to increase this year.
He said they are designed to increase efficiency as they will also be compatible with identity cards.
They include improved facial recognition technology to compare the person using the system with the photo on their ID.
Minister of State Colm Brophy, who also attended the launch, said as well as replacing the older generation of machines additional gates will be added they will be a “real game-changer”.
